Understanding Creativity: The Interplay of Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors - Hardcover

Dacey, John S.; Lennon, Kathleen H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787940321 ISBN 13: 9780787940324

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 1998

Synopsis

This book combines the wonder and awe of human creativity with the complexity of its study. The authors advance the ?biopsychosocial' perspective as a model of the creative process. . . . This new perspective promises to further our understanding of the ?intricacies of the creative mind.' In the process of studying this book, readers may increase the probability of enhancing their own creativity.
--Richard E. Ripple, professor, educational and developmental psychology, Cornell University

In Understanding Creativity John S. Dacey and Kathleen H. Lennon offer a thorough examination of the three factors--biological, psychological, and social--that contribute to the creative process. This compelling book explores a breadth of topics on creativity including: how creative people operate as successful and imaginative problem solvers, the essential role self-control plays in realizing creative potential, and the most current discoveries about how the brain works on the neuronal and chemical levels. Most important, the book presents an innovative model that integrates the biological, psychological, and social elements and reflects the most significant advances in current creativity research.

Understanding Creativity beautifully reveals the intricacies of the creative process and advances an innovative new view that can help anyone interested in the creative process to not only better understand it?but to enhance it.

Table of Contents

Part One: Introduction

1. The Many Components of Creativity

2. A Brief History of the Concept of Creativity

Part Two: Social Factors

3. The Role of the Family

4. The Role of the Social Context

Part Three: Psychological Factors

5. Ten Traits that Contribute to the Creative Personality

6. The Special Contribution of Self-Control

7. The Formation of Creative Personality Traits

8. Creative Cognitive Processes

9. Creative Problem Solving

Part Four: Biological Factors

10. The Brain at the Cellular Level

11. The Hemispheres of the Brain

Part Five: Integration

12. A New Biopsychosocial Explanation of Creativity

About this title

From the Back Cover

The topic of creativity is inherently fascinating, and interest in it is regularly reinvigorated as new findings are uncovered. For all that we know about creativity, much remains to be fully understood, and questions about it abound: What is creativity? Is it one of the factors of intelligence, or is it a separate entity from intelligence? Are we born with a creativity quotient? Can creativity be developed? And, if so, can creativity continue to develop across the lifespan? Can parents enhance their children?s creativity through conscious effort? Can teachers develop their students? creativity through focused teaching? Can organizations enhance their employees? creativity through targeted professional development? Can an individual become more creative through determination and effort? How much does?or can?the social environment influence creativity?

In Understanding Creativity, authors John S. Dacey and Kathleen H. Lennon offer a thorough examination of the three factors--biological, psychological, and social--that contribute to the creative process. In clear and lively language, this compelling book explores a breadth of topics on creativity including: how creative people operate as successful and imaginative problem solvers, the essential role self-control plays in realizing creative potential, and the most current discoveries about how the brain works on the neuronal and chemical levels. Most important, the book presents an innovative model that integrates the biological, psychological, and social elements and reflects the most significant advances in current creativity research.

The wealth of information in this important book can help to expand our knowledge and understanding of the creative process and also act as a guide to enhancing our powers of creativity.

Unveiling the Mysteries of Creativity

Understanding Creativity beautifully reveals the intricacies of the creative process and advances an innovative new view that can help anyone interested in the creative process to not only better understand it?but to enhance it.

"This book by Dacey and Lennon combines the wonder and awe of human creativity with the complexity of its study. The authors advance the ?biopsychosocial? perspective as a model of the creative process. . . . This new perspective promises to further our understanding of the ?intricacies of the creative mind.? In the process of studying this book, readers may increase the probability of enhancing their own creativity."--Richard E. Ripple, professor, educational and developmental psychology, Cornell University

"Dacey and Lennon have created a new way of looking at creativity and creative problem solving. Taking a giant step beyond traditional psychological and psychosocial models, the authors have joined biological research with that from the fields of cognitive psychology and social psychology. This highly integrated approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted findings of creativity research. The authors consider the reciprocal effects of the many diverse elements of their model on the development of individual creativity. In addition to reviewing current research, they set the stage for further scholarship, where their theoretical hypotheses can be empirically explored. A thought-provoking and fascinating work."-- Susan Besemer, professor, SUNY College at Fredonia

About the Author

JOHN S. DACEY is professor of developmental psychology in the Department of Counseling, Developmental Psychology, and Research Methods at Boston College. He is the author or coauthor of several psychology textbooks on child, adolescent, and lifespan development.

KATHLEEN H. LENNON teaches courses in the psychology of adult development at Framingham State College.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0787940321
• ISBN 13: 9780787940324
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 298